Trucker Protest: Downtown cleanup continues; Small protest ongoing near SJAM Parkway

The “Freedom Convoy” that converged in Ottawa on Jan. 28 began in response to the federal government’s move to require Canadian truck drivers crossing the U.S. border be fully vaccinated to avoid testing and quarantine requirements, but evolved into a protest against all public health measures aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers said they would not end their protest until all measures are dropped. Police have since moved in on the protest and have begun clearing downtown streets and encampment areas. 

What you need to know

2:15 p.m.

The Rideau Centre is reopening on Tuesday after being closed for over three weeks due to the convoy protest.

As per the update from the Ottawa Police Service that it is now safe for downtown businesses to resume operations, we can confirm CF Rideau Centre will be open on Tuesday, February 22,” read a statement from Cadillac Fairview, the mall’s owner.

“We look forward to welcoming back our community of clients, shoppers and employees!”

The popular downtown mall closed early on Jan. 29 after maskless demonstrators filled the centre and harassed workers.

1:40 p.m.

Although Ottawa’s downtown has emptied out, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government remains on guard to the possibility that trucks and protesters could return — whether to the nation’s capital or Canada’s ports of entry.

“Even though the blockades are lifted across border openings right now, even though things seem to be resolving very well in Ottawa, this state of emergency is not over,” Trudeau said at late morning press briefing.

Downtown Ottawa was eerily quiet Monday morning after weeks of overwhelming noise from honking horns, idling engines and large crowds protesting the the Liberal government, vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said a number of people associated with the Ottawa protest were in the area Monday. Trudeau added that a convoy from Fort McMurray, Alta. en route to Ottawa was turned away at the Manitoba border a few days ago.

“The situation is still of people repositioning, people being out there indicating that they are ready to blockade, to continue their illegal occupation to disrupt Canadians’ lives,” Trudeau said.

Fences surrounded the parliamentary precinct and roughly 100 police checkpoints checkered a large swath of the core to prevent demonstrators from infiltrating the former protest zone.

As the prime minister spoke, parliamentarians debated whether to approve extraordinary powers granted to police to quell the Ottawa protest.

The House of Commons is set to vote on the use of the Emergencies Act Monday evening, and some Conservatives argue the powers are no longer needed because the blockades are over.

Among the measures is one that allows banks to freeze accounts of those linked to the funding of the protests in Ottawa and elsewhere.

The RCMP said it provided banks with a list of names of influencers in the Ottawa demonstration and people who did not want to move their vehicles out of the area, but not anyone who donated to the protest, the service said.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said anyone affected has an easy avenue to have their accounts unfrozen: “Stop being a part of the blockades,” she said.

with files from the Canadian Press

12:30 p.m.

Ottawa Public Library’s Rideau branch will return to regular service and hours Tuesday after it was closed due to the downtown occupation.

“We thank you for your patience during this period when access to the branch was not possible due to service and traffic disruptions caused by the convoy demonstration,” a release from the library said.  

Noon

About two dozen remaining protesters were at the intersection of the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway and Booth Street Sunday morning.

Ottawa police said Saturday evening a protest was underway in that area, with a nearby traffic camera showing protesters waving Canadian flags on both sides of the parkway and on the median.

One protester who was at the site Sunday, Karen Petryshen of Athabasca, Alta., was holding an upside-down Canadian flag because “we’re in distress; we need help.”

11:40 a.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said invoking the Emergencies Act was necessary for allowing police to shut down blockades and prevent foreign money from funding protesters.

Discussing the vote on the use of the Emergencies Act set to take place Monday night after weekend debates in the House of Commons, Trudeau encouraged MPs to “take action against illegal blockades and to stand up for public safety and for the freedom of Canadians.”

“We didn’t want to use the Emergencies Act. It’s never something to turn to without serious consideration, but after weeks of dangerous and unlawful activities, after weeks of people being harassed in their neighbourhoods and small businesses forced to closed… it became clear that local and provincial authorities needed more tools to restore order and keep people safe,” he said.

“Our government will always defend freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. These values are at the core of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They’re at the core of who we are as Canadians.”

Trudeau said people can share their opinions, disagree with elected officials and even himself, but “you can’t harass your fellow citizens who disagree with you. You can’t hold a city hostage.”

“Anyone who votes no tonight (isn’t) doing anything other than indicating they don’t trust the government to make incredibly momentous and important decisions at a very difficult time.”

Trudeau said he is confident the majority of parliamentarians will vote in favour of the use of the Emergencies Act.

9:30 a.m.

Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden said on Twitter Sunday he’s asked the province’s integrity commissioner to investigate independent Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier “for counselling others to engage in vexatious 911 calls.”

Hillier has been quite active in voicing support for the “Freedom Convoy” efforts on social media. He’s also blamed governments and media for “inciting hatred and fear.”

Ottawa police sent out multiple notices over the course of the more than three-week protest about 911 and emergency lines being tied up due to convoy supporters calling to complain about police actions.

Hillier responded to one such tweet on Saturday, saying: “Keep calling in a democracy expressing yourself is a fundamental freedom.”

In a letter to Integrity Commissioner David Wake, Harden said attempts to endanger public safety are unacceptable, “and that is precisely what MPP Hillier has done in this instance. I shudder to think about the impact of a first responder diverted from an actual emergency by a vexatious 911 call.

8:45 a.m.

The “red zone” downtown has been largely cleared of debris since police gained back the ground from protesters over the weekend.

No vehicles except for those used by law enforcement or clean-up efforts are allowed in the zone. MPs and some Parliamentary employees are able to access Parliament Hill.

The Ottawa Police Service said on Twitter Sunday morning that Wellington Street remains closed to all traffic, including pedestrians and cyclists, and later in the morning said about 100 checkpoints are still in place.

The City of Ottawa has alerted people to fake texts posing as the city “regarding compensation for the convoy protests.”

“This is a scam. The City will never communicate about financial information through text message,” it said on Twitter.

The Coventry Road encampment, which grew to include parking for roughly 100 cars, pickup trucks and vans at any given time, plus a collection of RVs and big rigs, was shut down Sunday. Across from the parking lot were several large tents for meetings and barbecue meals, a trailer with heated toilets, and two saunas. Among the campers were families with pets.

Police said 20 vehicles were towed from that area and police would remain to make sure nobody returned to the site.

Sunday evening, a small demonstration was underway at the intersection of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and Booth Street, Ottawa police said.

A traffic camera showed protesters waving Canadian flags on both sides of the parkway and on the median.

“Children are present next to fast-moving traffic and measures are underway to ensure the safety of everyone present,” police said, asking people to avoid the area.

VIEW A GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM DOWNTOWN OTTAWA ON SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 2022

READ MORE COVERAGE OF THE ANTI-VACCINE MANDATE PROTESTS IN OTTAWA: